ESOCS Devotional 27 July 2023
MEMORY VERSE: “Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.”Judges 5:24
TEXT: JUDGES 5:19-END (KJV)
The kings came and fought, then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Megiddo; they took no gain of money.
20 They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.
21 The river of Kishon swept them away, that ancient river, the river Kishon. O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength.
22 Then were the horsehoofs broken by the means of the pransings, the pransings of their mighty ones.
23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.
24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.
25 He asked water, and she gave him milk; she brought forth butter in a lordly dish.
26 She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples.
27 At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.
28 The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots?
29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,
30 Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil?
31 So let all thine enemies perish, O Lord: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
“Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all” (Prov. 31:29). In fulfilling prophesy, Jael became a veritable tool in conquering the quest against Sisera, the captain of the host that have troubled Israel for twenty (20) years. We pray that as our women take their rightful place, every enemy of our lives, families, business, marriages, church and Nation shall be totally defeated. Every enemy that said we will not rest shall be laid to rest in Jesus Name, Amen.
Heber, the husband of Jael had informed Sisera that Barak was gone up to Mount Tabor, the circumstances under which this took place is yet to be ascertained but sure it was meant for good. We declare that anyone revealing your secret to your enemies, the Lord will frustrate them and disappoint their intentions in the Name of Jesus. Interestingly, while the interaction between Heber and Sisera lasted, Jael was in the know. This knowledge propelled her into action that earned her a place in the victory song of Deborah, confirming her blessed above women in the tent. Here are some of the lessons from the life of Jael as a blessed woman:
- She was fully involved in her husband’s life and assignment: She had interest in all that concerned her husband. The questions to our wives are; how much of your husband business do you know? If he happens to be a civil servant, do you have idea of what he does in the office daily? How much are you involved in the ministry assignment of your husband? How much are you helping him to fulfill purpose in all that he is meant to do? Are you interested enough in your husband for him to tell you his challenges? Can you confidentially be relied upon by your husband? Woman! Don’t feel less concerned or pay lip service to what your husband is doing in life. Get fully involved.
- She received visitors and strangers with excitement: It is very clear that the nature of reception Sisera received from the house of Heber through Jael propelled him to run towards her tent in his time of distress. Note that he did not make mistake of the particular tent he was running to “Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the kenite…” (Judges 4:17). What kind of reception do you give to people that come your way? How do you relate to people that are connected, associated or related to your husband? Elder’s wife, what is your disposition towards members? How receptive are you to your in-laws? I had once visited an uncle by 7:00 pm where I was to pass the night and the wife clearly told me before her husband that she had closed her kitchen. Learn to receive people with cordiality.
- Be interested and concerned with what your husband does.
- Father, grant us the grace to develop these characters that will fuel these blessings
FURTHER READING: Luke 8:16-32; Ezra 8:15-32; Acts 21:1-21; 21:40
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ESOCS Devotional 26 July 2023
